Combined union, reducer, and expansion-joint.



No. 797,152. PATENTED AUG. 15. 3.905. W R, SHEGKLER. COMBINED UNION,REDUGER, AND EXPANSION JOINT.

APBLIGATION rum) APRJ, 1905.

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No 797,152. PATENTED AUG, 15, 1905. W. Ra EHEOKLER.

COMBINED UNIUN, RBDUGER, AND EXPANSION JOINT" APILIGATIOH FILED APBJ,1905.

31 um 11 lo-z WW2 ca PA'IENT OFFICE.

COWlEINIZ-Ilfll UNIIUN, WEUUCEH, AND EXPANSBION-UOINT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 15, 1905' Application filed April 1, 1905. Serial No.253,211.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILDER R. SHnoxLnR, a citizen of the UnitedStates,residing at Greenville, in the coun y of Mercer and State ofPennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in aCombined Union, Reducer, and Expansion-Joint; and i do hereby declarethe following to be a full, clear, and exact description of theinvention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to pipe joints or couplings for connecting sectionsof pipe used in systems of air, steam, gas, and water distribution, andmore particularly to expansion or slip joints for oil-pipe lines andwater-mains.

Various devices have heretofore been em ployed for joining pipe-sectionstogether in such manner that the pipes may not be broken nor the jointsinjured by the unavoidable expansion and contraction of the metal atdifferenttemperatures; but the ever-varyinglength of the pipe-sectionsand the greatly increased or reduced length of a given number ofrigidly-con nected sections, caused by varying degrees of heat and cold,have been hitherto a fruitful source of broken pipes and leaky joints.

One object of my invention is to provide simple,efiicient,andinexpensive means Whereby adjacent portions of a broken pipe, eitherwith or without threads on the parts to be united, or the threaded orthrcadless ends of gas or other pipes may be easily and quickly securedtogether, so as to form an air-tight or water-tight joint which shallnot be affected by subsequent expansion or contraction of the metal.

A further object is to provide an improved device of the characterreferred to adapted to be used on pipes of different sizes forconnectinga pipe-section of a given diameter with one of greater or lessdiameter or two sections of the same diameter, as may be desired.

A further object is to provide an improved expansion pipe-joint withincreased capacity for application to different pipe-lines employingpipes of different sizes or diiferent-sized pipes in the same line.

The invention will first be hereinafter more particularly described withreference to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of thisspecification, and then pointed. out in the claims at the end of thedescription. Said hence I do not desire to be limited to the exactconstruction shown and described.

In said drawings, Figure 1 represents a side elevation of the severalparts of a pipejoint embodying my invention disconnected. Fig. 2 is alongitudinal vertical section of the pipe-joint shown in Fig. 1, showingthe several parts assembled and connecting a threaded with a threadlesssection of pipe. Fig. 3is a similar sectional view showing a slightmodification of the invention as applied to connect a broken pipe orthreadless sections of pipe. Fig. 4 is a similar sectional View ofanother modification illustrating the application of the invention topipes of different diameters. Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view ofanother modification of the construction shown in F ig. 1, illustratingthe use of a nut instead of fastening-bolts for securing thecoupling-sleeves together. Fig. 6 is a detail sectional view taken onthe line VI VI of Fig. 5 looking in the direction indicated by thearrow.

Referring to the drawings, the letter A denotes a pipe-section having athreaded end, and A a pipe-section without threads and on which arefitted the coupling pieces or sleeves B and B, respectively, by whichthe ends of said pipe-sections are joined together. The coupling-piece Bhas a cylindrical body portion which is interiorly threaded at one endto adapt it to be screwed upon the exteriorlythreaded end of the pipe A,an external circumferential flange I) at the other end thereof, and anannular rib or shoulder I) at the base of said flange to provide aretaining-seat for a packing-ring C, which is interposed between theconfronting surfaces of the parts B and B. The coupling-sleeve B has anexternal circumferential flange 5 at the end thereof adjacent to thepart B and an internal rib or annulus I) at its opposite end fittingsnugly around the pipe A. The external flanges Z) have suitably-spacedapertures therein to receive the fastening-bolts for securing said partstogether and clamping the packing ring or disk G between them, so as toseal the joint. \Vithin the coupling-sleeve B is fitted a packing sleeveor gland E, which fits snugly over the end of the pipe A, and in theannular chamber surrounding the pipe between said gland and the annulusor rib b is placed suitable packing material 6, which is compressedaround the pipe when the gland is forced inward, so as to form aperfectly air and water tight connection. The packingsleeve ispreferably formed with an inwardly inclined or beveled end and the rib bwith an outwardly-inclined confronting surface 6 for the purpose ofcrowding the packing toward the pipe. The said packing-sleeve may alsobe provided with an annular circumferential flange 6 having anoutwardly-inclined surface confronting an annular cut-away portion ordepression in the adjacent end of the coupling-sleeve, so that when thepackingsleeve is forced home its inner end will be flush with the innerend of the coupling-sleeve and further movement thereof prevented. Athoroughly efficient air and water tight joint is thus formed withprovision for expansion and contraction by means of the telescopicconnection between the coupling-sleeve B and pipe-section A. y

In the modification shown in Fig. 3 the coupling-piece B is omitted andinstead there of a coupling-sleeve B is employed of the sameconstruction as the coupling-sleeve B or a counterpart thereof, withsimilar packing-sleeve therein for uniting the ends of the pipe-sectionswithout threads, thus providing a double expansion-joint.

In Fig. at an interchangeable packing sleeve or gland E, of reducedinternal diameter, is employed, together with a filling-piece orreducing-ring F, of the same internal diameter, fitting within thesleeve B and snugly around the pipe A which is of lesser diameter thanthe pipes A and A, thus uniting the ends of two pipes of different sizesby means of the same coupling-sleeves and a packing-sleeve andreducing-ring that may be used interchangeably with packing-sleeves ofgreater or less internal diameter than the sleeve or gland. It will beunderstood, of course, that a pair of coupling-sleeves with glands andreducing-rings, such as shown in Fig. A, may be employed for unitingpipes of difierent sizes or of reduced size, each without threads, so asto provide the double form of expansionjoint in such cases by the use ofthe interchangeable glands and reducing-rings with the samecoupling-sleeves.

In the modification shown in Figs. 5 and 6 instead of the externalcircumferential flanges on the coupling-sleeves with fastening-bolts foruniting said parts the coupling-piece B is externally threaded andsecured to the coupling-piece B by a nut Gr, screwed thereon,

having an internal rib g engaging an external rib or projection on theend of the sleeve B", which is fitted within said nut.

By the described construction abroken pipe with threadless ends caneasily be mended by slipping over each of the adjoining ends of thebroken parts a coupling-sleeve and inserting therein suitable packingmaterial,- then forcing the packing-sleeve into position for compressingthe packing, andafter placing the 1')acking-disk on its seat drawing thecouplingsleeves together by means of the fasteningbolts, and in the sameway pipe-sections either with or without threads may be coupled togetherand a perfectly tight joint secured. In case one section has a threadedend a threaded coupling-piece may be attached thereto and joined to acoupling-sleeve on the adjoining pipe-section by means offastening-bolts, such as shown in Figs. 1 to A or the nut shown in Fig.5, and in case either pipe-section is smaller in diameter than theinterior diameter of the usual coupling and packing-sleeves it is onlynecessary to substitute a packing-sleeve of lesser interior diameter anda reducing-ring of like character for making the desired connection.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new. and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. A pipe-joint comprising a tubular body fitted on and firmly securedto one end of a pipe,

a coupling-sleeve loosely fitted on the adjacent end of another pipe andhaving an internal annular abutment for packing confined around the pipewithin the sleeve, the inner ends of said tubular body and sleeveadjoining, a packing tube or gland fitting around the pipe within thecoupling-sleeve, and means for drawing and fastening said tubular bodyand couplingsleeve together spanning and sealing the space between theends of the connected pipe-sections, substantially as described.

2. A pipe-joint comprising a tubular body fitted on one end of a pipe, acoupling-sleeve fitted on the adjacent end of another pipe and having aninternal annular abutment for packing confined around the pipe withinthe sleeve, the inner ends of said tubular body and sleeve adjoining, apacking tube or gland fitting around the pipe within thecoupling-sleeve, a packing-disk between the adjoining ends of saidtubular body and coupling-sleeve, and means for drawing and fasteningsaid tubular body and coupling-sleeve together spanning and sealing thespace between the ends of the connected pipe-sections, substantially asdescribed.

3. In a pipe-joint, a coupling member consisting of a tubular body orsleeve adapted to be slid over the end of a pipe and having means at oneend for attachment to an adjoining coupling member on an adjacentpipe-section and an internal annular rib or shoulder the other endthereof, and a packing-tube slidably fitted in said tubular body andhaving an external annular flange at its inner end seated in acorresponding depression in said tubular body, substantially asdescribed.

4:. llna pipe-joint, a coupling member consisting of a tubular body orsleeve having means at one end forattachment to an adjoining couplingmember and an internal annular rib or shoulder at the other'end thereof,and a packing-tube slidably fitted in said tubular body and having anexternal annular flange at its inner end seated in a correspondingdepression in said tubular body, with the inner end of the latter flushwith the inner end of said packing-tube, substantially as described.

5. A coupling-sleeve for a pipe-joint having means at one end forattachment to an adjoining coupling member and an annular depressionabout the opening in said end having an inwardly-inclined wall, and atthe other end thereof an internal annular rib or shoulder, combined witha packing-tube fitting within said sleeve and having an external annularflange with an outwardly-inclined wall seated in said depression,substantially as described.

6. A coupling-sleeve for a pipe-joint having means at one end forattachment to an adjoining coupling member and an annular depressionabout the opening in said end having an inwardly-inclined Wall, and atthe other end thereof an internal annular rib or shoulder, combined witha packingtube fitting within said sleeve and having an external annularflange with an outwardly-inclined wall seated in said depression,together with a tubular coupling member adapted for attach ment to saidcoupling-sleeve and having means for securing it to the end of a pipe,substantially as described.

7. A pipe-coupling comprising a pair of sleeves having means forsecuring their adjacent ends together, each sleeve having an internalannular rib or shoulder at its outer end, packing-tubes fitted in saidsleeves having external annular flanges on their adjacent ends, andsuitable packing within said sleeves between said packing-tubes andannular ribs or shoulders, substantially as described.

8. A pipe-coupling comprising a pair of sleeves having means forsecuring their adjacent ends together, each sleeve having an internalannular rib or shoulder at its outer end, packing-tubes fitted in saidsleeves having external annular flanges on their adjacent ends, andsuitable packing within said sleeves between said packing-tubes andannular ribs or shoulders, together with a flat disk or annulus ofpacking material fitted between the adjacent ends of said sleeves,substantially as de scribed.

9. In combination with the coupling-sleeve having means at one end forattachment to an adjoining coupling member and an internal annular ribor shoulder at the other end thereof, interchangeable packing-tubes andreducing rings adapted to be fitted within said sleeve to reduce thesize of the opening therethrough to adapt the coupling to a pipe ofreduced size, substantially as described.

10. A pipe-joint comprisinga tubular body adapted for attachment to theend of a pipe, a coupling-sleeve constructed to fit over an adjoiningpipe end and having an internal abutment for packing and means forsecuring one end thereof to said tubular body, together withinterchangeable packing-tubes having difierent internal diametersadapted to lit interchangeably within said sleeve, and a reducing-ringalso fitting within said sleeve, whereby the same tubular body andcoupling sleeve are adapted to secure together pipe ends of the samesize or different sizes, substantially as described.

11. A pipe-joint consisting of a tubular body adapted for attachment toa pipe end, in combination with a coupling-sleeve constructed to fitover an adjacent pipe end and confine packing material around the pipe,together with interchangeable packing-tubes having different internaldiameters adapted to be inserted interchangeably within one end of saidsleeve and a reducing-ring adapted to fit within the other end thereofhaving its internal diameter corresponding with that of one of saidpacking-tubes of reduced internal diameter, substantially as described.

12. A pipe-joint comprising a tubular body having means at one end forsecuring it to a pipe, a sleeve adapted to he slid over an adjoiningpipe end having an internal abutment for packing around the pipe, theinner ends of said body and sleeve adjoining, a packing-tube within saidsleeve, a packing disk or ring interposed between said adjoining ends,and means for securing the latter together and compressing saidpacking-disk and packing around the pipes, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILDER R. SHECKLER.

Witnesses:

SAMUEL J. ORR, NELLIE SAUL.

